Regulator



Aug. 12,1930. K. s. MQENTIRE REGULATOR Filed Oct. 15

m W m a Jfenneih. 51125722176,

@w/iz M Patented Aug. 12, 1930 PATENT OFFICE KENNETH S. MGENTIRE, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI REGULATOR Application filed October 15, 1927.

My invention relates to regulators and while it is applicable to various kinds of mechanisms for controlling the latter, in the present instance I have shown it applied to a 5 time-piece for correcting inaccuracies in the running thereof.

WVhen the mechanism constituting my invention is applied to a time-piece as hereinafter described, it is adjusted by the minute hand of said timepiece and in turn adjusts the stroke of the pendulum or other speed governing means of said time-piece, to the end that when the latter runs too slow or too fast the stroke of the pendulum or other speed governing means is shortened or lengthened as required to correct the operation of said time-piece.

By the use of my invention guess work and delays in correcting the running of the timepiece are eliminated because if said timepiece should lose or gain, say, ten minutes in twenty-four hours, it is only necessary to advance or retract the minute hand at the end of the initial twenty-four hour period over a space indicating ten minutes on the dial to cause my mechanism to adjust the stroke of the pendulum or other speed governing means to effect the correct running of the time-piece.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, reference will now be had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a broken side elevation of a timepiece equipped with the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation showing important features of the invention.

Fi 3 is an enlarged detail of a threaded mem er and a nut employed in carrying out the invention.

Fig. 4 is a detail of a slotted arm.

Fig. 5 is a detail of an arm provided at one end with a pair of spaced elements.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a lever.

Referring in detail to the different parts, 2 designates the case, 4 the dial, 6 the pendulum, 8 the pendulum spring, 10 the support for the pendulum s ring 8, 12 the verge lever, 14 the minute han 16 the hour hand, 18the shaft upon which the minute hand is fixedly mounted, 20 the tubular shaft upon which Serial No. 226,397.

the hour hand is fixedly mounted, 22 a gear wheel which is loosely mounted upon the shaft 18, but normally rotates the latter through the intermediary of a spring or clutch 24 which is fixedly mounted upon said shaft 18 and frictionally engages the adjacent portion of the gear wheel 22, 26 a portion of the time-piece movement which drives the gear wheel 22, and 28 the frame for said movement. All of the foregoing parts may be of ordinary construction.

Referring more particularly to the parts constituting my invention, 30 designates a gear wheel whichv intermeshes with the gear wheel 22 and is fixedly mounted upon one end of a threaded member 32 which extends transversely through and rotates with the shaft 18, around which latter the gear wheel 30 travels in an orbit.

34 designates a nut arranged to travel in and out upon the threaded member 32, which latter has smooth diametrically reduced pore tions 40 and 42 at the ends of the thread 36, so that the threads of the nut 34 will not be damged in the event that the travel of the latter should at any time exceed the length of said thread 36. The outer end of the smooth portion 40 has a cap 44 between which and the outer end of the thread 36 a spring 46 is inserted for forcing the nut 34 back upon said thread 36 in the event that the nut 34: is carried upon the smooth portion 40. Likewise, the smooth portion 42 is provided with a spring 4-8 for forcing the nut 34 back upon the thread 36 in the event said nut 34 is carried inwardly too far.

The nut 34 is provided with a laterally projecting member 50 which extends through a longitudinal slot 52 in an arm 54 fixed upon the shaft 18 and having one end bent at right angles to engage that end of the threaded member 32 upon which the gear wheel 30 is I fixedly mounted. The slotted portion 52 of the arm lconstitutes a guide for the member 50 and also prevents the latter and the nut 34 from rotating axially with the threaded member 32.

56 designates a pair of spaced elements fixed upon one end of an arm 58. Said elements 56 are spaced apart just far enough to permit the passage of the member and their ends are curved as indicated at on Fig. 5, so that should said member 50 in its travel around the shaft 18 contact either of said curved ends it will move the arm 58 up or down as the case may be to bring the intervening space 62 into position for the passage of said member 50.

The arm 58 operates in a guide 64 and is connected at its upper end to the slotted end 65 of a lever 66 fulcrumed at 68 and having a bifurcated opposite end 70 through which the pendulum spring 8 extends. In timepieces where a balance wheel and a hair spring are used instead of a pendulum the lever 66 may be made to vary the effective length of said hair spring so that the speed of the balance wheel will be increased or diminished in the same manner as that of the pendulum.

In the normal operation of the time-piece the gear wheel 22 drives the shaft 18 through the intermediary of the friction spring 24. is the shaft 18 rotates it carries the threaded member 32 therewith and said threaded member 32 in turn carries the gear wheel 30 in an orbit around said shaft 18. During this operation the gear wheel 30 is held from axial r0- tation by the gear wheel 22 and in turn prevents the threaded member 32 from rotating axially. The member 50 in each revolution with the shaft 18 and the nut 84 passes through the space 62 without contacting either of the elements 56 when the time-piece is running accurately. However, should the time-piece lose, say, ten minutes in twentyfour hour, it may be corrected at the end of the initial twenty-four hour period by advancing the minute hand 14 through an are equivalent to ten minutes upon the dial. This operation causes the shaft 18 to rotate faster than the gear wheel 22 and carry the threaded member 32 and the gear wheel 30 around more rapidly than said gear wheel 22, which latter thereupon causes the gear wheel 30 to rotate axially. Axial rotation of the gear wheel 30 causes the threaded member 32 to rotate axially and move the nut 34 outwardly. As the nut 34 moves outwardly it carries the member 50 therewith which impinges against the lower end of the upper spaced element 56, thereby lifting the same and the arm 58, which latter adjusts the lever 66 so that it will shorten the effective stroke of the pendulum 6 enough to cause the time-piece to keep correct time. On the other hand should the time-piece gain ten minutes in twentyfour hours the minute hand 14 is turned back wardly at the end of the initial twenty-four hour period through an are indicating ten minutes upon the dial 4, which operation causes the gear wheel 30 and the threaded member 32 to rotate axially in a reverse direction and cause the nut 34 to travel inwardly with the member 50. As the member 50 moves inwardly it contacts with the upper curved edge of the lower element 56, which in turn lengthens the effective stroke of the pendulum 6 through the intermediary of the arm 58 and the lever 66.

lVhile in the present instance the corrections are assumed to be made in twenty-four hour periods, the pitch of the threaded member 32 or the ratio of the gears 22 and 30 may be proportioned for any desired period of regulation.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that I have provided a regulator embodying the advantages above pointed out and while I have shown and described one form of said regulator, I reserve all rights to such changes and modifications thereof as properly fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The combination with a time-piece having a pendulum, a shaft, a hand fixedly mounted upon said shaft, and a gear wheel forming a part of the movement of the timepiece and adapted through frictional means to normally rotate said shaft in a clockwise direction; a second gear wheel in mesh with the first gear wheel, a threaded member which is actuated by the shaft and carries said second gear wheel in an orbit, and means for adjusting the effective length of the pendulum and which is actuated by said thr aded member when the shaft is rotated at higher speed than normal during the setting of the time-piece with the hand.

2. The combination with a time-piece having a pendulum, a shaft, a hand fixedly mounted upon said shaft, and a gear wheel forming a part of the movement of the timepiece and adapted through frictional means to normally rotate said shaft in a clockwise direction; of a threaded member extending transversely through said shaft, a gear wheel fixedly mounted upon said threaded member and normally held stationar 1 upon its own axis by the first gear wheel until the hand is manually rotated to the right or left to set the time-piece whereupon the second gear wheel is caused to rotate axially and in turn rotate the threaded member upon which it mounted, a nut mounted upon and caused to travel inwardly or outwardly upon said threaded member according to the direction in which the latter is axially rotated, and means controlled by said nut and which in turn adjusts the effective length of said pendulum.

3. The combination with a time-piece having a pendulum, a shaft, a hand fixedly mounted upon said shaft, and a gear wheel forming a part of the movement of the timepiece and adapted through frictional means to normally rotate said shaft in a closkwise direction; of a threaded member extending transversely through said shaft, a gear wheel fixedly mounted upon said threaded member and normally held stationary upon its own axis by the first gear wheel until the hand is manually rotated to the right or left to set the time-piece whereupon the second gear wheel is caused to rotate axially and in turn rotate the threaded member upon which it is mounted, a nut mounted upon and caused to travel inwardly or outwardly upon said threaded member according to the direction in which the latter is axially rotated, a member projecting from said nut, a pair of connected elements spaced apart for the passage of the last-mentioned member but which are moved in one direction by the latter when it is carried inwardly by the nut and in a reverse direction when said member is carried outwardly by the nut, and intervening members between the spaced elements and the pendulum whereby the effective stroke of the latter is lengthened or shortened according to the direction of movement of said spaced elements.

4. In combination with a time-piece having speed governing means, a shaft, and a driven gear wheel having a frictional connection with said shaft for normally driving the latter; a second gear wheel arranged to travel in an orbit about said shaft and normally held from axial rotation by said driven gear, a threaded member extendin transversely to and driven by said shaft and caused to rotate axially by said second gear wheel when the shaft is manually rotated in either direction to set the time-piece, a nut mounted to travel upon said threaded member when the latter is rotated axially, and normally stationary mechanism for adjusting the speed governing means and which is controlled by said nut when the latter travels upon the threaded member.

5. In combination with a time-piece having speed governing means, a shaft, and a driven gear wheel having a frictional connection with said shaft for normally driving the latter; a second gear wheel arranged to travel in an orbitabout said shaft and normally held from axial rotation by said driven gear, a threaded member extending transversely to and driven by said shaft and caused to rotate axially by said second gear wheel when the shaft is manually rotated in either direction to set the time-piece, a nut mounted to travel upon said threaded member when the latter is rotated axially, spring means at each end of the threaded portion of said member for returning the nut to said threaded portion in the event it runs off the latter, and normally stationary mechanism for adjusting the speed governing means and which is controlled by said nut when the latter travels upon the threaded member.

6. In combination with a time-piece having speed governing means, a shaft, and a driven gear wheel having a frictional con nection with said shaft for normally driving 'the latter; a second gear wheel arranged to travel in an orbit around said shaft and normally held from axial rotation by said driven gear, a threaded member extending transversely to and driven by said shaft and caused to rotate axially by said second gear wheel when the shaft is manually rotated in either direction to set the time-piece, a nut mounted to travel upon said threaded member when. the latter is rotated axially, means for preventing axial rotation of the nut upon said threaded member, and mechanism for adjusting the speed governing means which is moved in one direction by the nut when the latter travels inwardly upon said threaded member and in a reverse. direction when said nut travels outwardly.

7. In combination with a time-piece having speed governing means, a shaft, a hand fixed to said shaft, a dial over which said hand is adapted to sweep, and a driven gear wheel having a frictional connection with said shaft for normally driving the latter; a second gear wheel arranged to travel in an orbit about said shaft and normally held from axial rotation by said driven gear wheel, a threaded member extending transversely to and driven by said shaft and caused to rotate axially by said second gear wheel when the hand is manually rotated in either direction to set the time-piece, a nut mounted to travel upon said threaded member when the latter is rotated axially, a normally stationary member which is adjusted by said nut when the latter travels upon the threaded member, and a lever for adjusting the speed governing means and which is controlled by said normally stationary member when the latter is moved by the nut.

8. In combination with a time-piece movement having speed governing means, means in constant gear with said movement and including a threaded member which is rotated axially when the movement is setto correct time, and mechanism for adjusting the speed governing means and which is controlled by said threaded member when the latter is axially rotated.

9. In combination with a time-piece movement having speed governing means, a shaft which may be manually rotated to the right or left to set the time-piece, and a gear mounted upon said shaft to normally drive the latter but free to rotate independently when the shaft is manually rotated; a threaded member journaled in said shaft, a second gear wheel intermeshing with the first gear wheel and mounted upon said threaded member to rotate the latter axially when the shaft is manually rotated, and means for adjusting the speed governing means and which is controlled by said threaded member when the latter is rotated axially.

10. In combination with a time-piece movement having speed governing means, a threaded member which is geared to and rotated axially by said movement when the latter is set to correct time, a nut mounted to travel upon said threaded member, spring means at each end of the threaded portion of said member for returning the nut to said threaded portion should it leave the latter, and mechanism for adjusting the speed governing means and which is actuated by said nut.

11. In combination with a time-piece move ment having speed governing means and a shaft which latter may be manually rotated to the right or left to set said movement, a lever associated with said speed governing means for adjusting the latter, two spaced elements for controlling said lever, a member arranged to describe orbits of variable diameters in order to pass between said elements or engage and actuate the latter, and means actuated by the timepiece movement for controlling said member.

12. In combination with a time-piece movement provided with time-setting and speed controlling mechanisms; mechanism for regulating said speed controlling mechanism and which is permanently connected to and actuated by said timesetting mechanism.

13. In combination with a time-piece movement provided with speed controlling and time-setting mechanisms which latter normally is irictionally driven clockwise by said movement but free to turn to the right or left at greater than normal speed when setting the time-piece; a member which is controlled by the time-setting mechanism and in constant gear with the time-piece movement to rotate axially when said. time-setting mechanism is adjusted to set the time-piece, and mechanism which is actuated by axial rotation of said member and in turn regulates the speed controlling mechanism of the timepiece.

let. In combination with a time-piece movement having speed governing means and a friction driven shaft through which latter said timepiece may be set to correct time, mechanism in constant gear with said movement and provided with means for adjusting the speed governing means each time said shaftis rotated to set the timepiece.

15. in combination with a time-piece movement having speed governing means and a friction driven shattthrough which latter said time-piece may be set to correct time, a gear wheel in constant mesh with said movement but normally stationary axially, means connecting the g ar wheel and the shaft whereby the latter causes said gear wheel to travel in an orbit and cooperates with the movement in causing said gear wheel to also rotate axially when the shaft is rotated at a higher speed than normal to set the timepiece, and means to which the axial rotation of the gear wheel is imparted and which in turn adjusts the speed governing means.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

KENNETH S. MCENTIRE. 

